Diocese cancels abuse ‘strategy’ meeting with no explanation

THE DIOCESE of Cloyne has refused to disclose why it suddenly cancelled a meeting in Cork aimed at discussing potential “strategies” once the Murphy Commission report into clerical abuse in the diocese is published.

All priests in the North and East Cork diocese were invited to the meeting late last week. However, the night before the gathering was due to take place, priests were informed that the event would not be going ahead.

A spokesman for the diocese refused to tell the Irish Examiner why the meeting was cancelled, describing it as an “internal meeting” and “it would therefore not be appropriate to discuss reasons”.